Graduation and Commencement Participation

Graduation

Students must take ultimate responsibility for academic planning—of each semester, of each academic year, and of degree completion. The Self Service Academic Plan provides all students and advisors with an accurate list of core and major requirements required for the degree. The Registrar’s Office begins monitoring degree progress in the spring of the student’s junior year. Students must meet with their faculty advisors on a regular basis to review degree requirements and plan senior year registrations. Bachelor degrees are conferred January 15, June 5, and September 15.

Seniors must complete the Application for Graduation by the established deadlines posted to the College's academic calendar to ensure they appear as candidates for the graduation date intended. The College, however, reserves the right to confer a degree on a student who has completed all of the requirements for a degree even though the student has not petitioned to graduate; such an individual would then be subject to the College's usual rules and restrictions regarding future enrollment or registration.  In such cases where the College confers a degree for a student who has not petitioned to graduate, the diploma will convey the legal name listed in the student record.

Commencement Participation

There is one commencement ceremony each year in May. Students earning degrees in January and June may participate in the May commencement ceremony for that year. Students earning degrees in September may participate in the May ceremony the following year.  Commencement information is available online at www.hood.edu/commencement, which is updated regularly. Students may not participate in commencement unless they have applied for graduation, have earned their degrees in that academic year, or are candidates for degrees in June of that ceremony year.

Students may only attend one commencement ceremony per degree earned. Additional majors that fall under the original degree do not make the student eligible to participate in an additional commencement ceremony. Failure to participate in the commencement ceremony where the degree was originally earned, does not qualify students to attend future ceremonies.

A graduating student must resolve any outstanding balances with Hood College. The deadline to complete all payments is May 5. The student's degree will still be conferred, and they will be able to access their transcripts. However, they will not be permitted to participate in Commencement ceremonies with the graduating class or in future ceremonies.

Diplomas are available for mailing or pick-up in the registrar's office after degrees are conferred for students without any obligations to the College. Students with outstanding financial obligations will not receive their diplomas until obligations are resolved. 

Questions about outstanding financial balances should be directed to the Accounting department (Alumnae Hall, Room 213) at 301-696-3607 or accounting@hood.edu.